British scientists spearhead "growth" industry with innovative organic materials for use in wide range of household goods
British scientists spearhead "growth" industry with innovative organic materials for use in wide range of household goods
Keywords: Environment, Materials, Ecology
The cars, fridges and cookers of the future may soon be stronger and more environmentally friendly because component materials can be "grown" (Plate 2).
Scientists at QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology organisation,are leading a groundbreaking new project called Biomat, which aims to harness the full potential of natural plant fibres as raw materials for a variety of British industries.
Plate 2
The new organic materials, which incorporate flax, hemp and willow fibres are lighter, stronger, cleaner to produce and easier to recycle than conventional metal and plastic materials currently used. Increased consumer environmental awareness, coupled with tough new legislation on recycling has encouraged their development.
Already, EU legislation proposals making vehicle producers liable for the costs of recycling will be enacted before the end of 2003 to deal with the 9 million tonne European car mountain.
The motor industry has been the first to get involved with the project and Ford, one of the world's biggest car manufacturers, has become a Biomat partner because it is interested in using the new materials Biomat develops for car body components that improve safety and reduce costs and environmental impact.
Biomat project leader, QinetiQ's Robert West, said: "Concerns about the environment are growing and new legislation is putting responsible environmental management at the top of the corporate agenda. The development of more durable and ecologically sound materials will be a crucial part of manufacturing in the future."
"There is an immense potential market out there for the Biomat materials and we expect to see initial adoption of our technology within the automotive industry. These new environmentally friendly materials will help manufacturing industries across the world meet their green goals."
Composites based on natural fibres are one of the fastest growing markets in the plastics industry, expected to achieve double-digit annual growth rates to 2010. In 2002, the combined North American and Western European markets for these materials was worth US$775 million.
